by Randi Darren
“Thanks. I try,” Riley said with a smile. “I’m going to get our beds set up. Are you going to take Alex to bed tonight?”
“I think so,” Rebekah said, reaching up to lightly smooth Alex’s hair back. “Care to split him with me? Or are you just up for watching still? You’re one of the few I’d like to do that with. Five won’t ever say yes.”
“Just watching. Sorry. I appreciate the offer. I just… don’t want to have anyone but Alex,” Riley said.
“I understand,” Rebekah said, waving a hand at her.
“All clear,” Carla said from outside.
“You done treating me like a favorite toy?” Alex said, looking at Rebekah with a grin.
“No,” she replied, smiling back at him. She leaned toward him, practically oozing out of her tight-fitting top. It was her modified house uniform, which made her look like amazing and always displayed her best attributes. “Not anytime soon. Get used to it, baby. You are my favorite toy, and you always will be. Wanna play a new game tonight?”
Swallowing hard, Alex gave Rebekah a light kiss and then got out of the carriage, pulling at his collar.
Sometimes Rebekah hit the right buttons almost too hard. It made his thoughts squirrel away out from under him.
And right now, it felt like he’d need his wits.
“You run away from her again?” Nannie asked, moving in next to him as he marched for the large tent.
“Yeah,” Alex muttered.
“Heh. To be fair, she’s beautiful and seems built to your tastes and satisfaction. She’s a damn near clone of Anna, just a bit bigger,” Nannie said. “Some girls get all the luck.”
Alex thought on that one.
To be fair, Rebekah really did share a lot of attributes with Anna. Her mentality was far more fluid, however, and she seemed far more in tune with human things.
Whereas Anna was more like a wolf who thought of other people as little more than bags of meat to be exploited.
“I dunno. I like the big, nasty blondes too, ya know? Especially the ones who were murderers once upon a time. They’re surrounded by this delicious evil shell and have the sweetest, softest center of all when you crack them open,” Alex said, deliberately looking up into Nannie’s face.
“Hmph. So I’ve come to find out. We’ll wait out here,” Nannie said, and she drew aside next to Regina’s command tent. Carla and Eleanor did the same, the three women forming a triangle and starting up a conversation immediately.
His Numbered trusted Regina’s personal guard.
Walking into the tent, Alex found himself listening to someone relaying information to Regina about the current disposition of their forces.
Alex folded his hands behind his back, got quiet, and moseyed on over to Regina’s side.
He said nothing, offered no counsel, and didn’t interrupt. He merely walked up and gently laid a hand on her shoulder.
Regina looked up at him, gave him a wide smile, and went back to the report.
When the man finished, Regina dismissed him with a wave of her hand.
Everyone got the hint and left at the same time.
They had all seen the way Regina had changed in disposition once Alex arrived, and each person knew it would be best to leave her alone with him.
The tent cleared almost instantly.
“I’m so glad to see you,” Regina said, smiling up at him. “And apparently none too soon. That attack would have cost me. They were a fresh unit on a fast march. Came out of nowhere.”
Damn. I owe Rike.
You do. But it’s alright.
I taught her the rights and wrongs about relationships. She won’t hurt you.
Alex cringed at that statement. When Leah spoke about her husband, it was always when she sounded the most crazy.
If Rike was like her sister, Alex was in serious trouble.
“I had Amy Ridge murdered,” Alex said, getting straight to what he needed to tell Regina. “I gave my father-in-law that barony I had made in Gaelis’s lands, and I married Katherine and Quinn.
“I’ve arrived to assist you with the entirety of my army and their liege levies.
“Unfortunately, during Amy’s interrogation before she was killed, she revealed she was working for Gaelis, and that she suspected Gaelis in turn worked for someone else.”
Regina stared up at him, processing all of that information rapidly.
Alex would never doubt that it was likely she was smarter than he was. Or at least able to grasp things with more mental alacrity.
“I see,” she said finally, then sighed. “I’ll sign whatever you need me to, dear. I just wish you had better news.”
“But I do have good news. You didn’t ask me how many soldiers I had,” Alex said with a grin. “In fact, I think you’re going to like the number so much, I might even talk you into using that sweet mouth of yours.
“Imagine… a beautiful duchess endeavoring to pleasure a mere count with her fine lips.”
Regina scoffed at that, leaning back in her chair. “As if I haven’t already done that to you, and often.”
She did smile at him, though, a good portion of her weariness seeming to drain away.
“Well? How many soldiers do you have, my love?” she asked.
Leaning down, he got eye to eye with Regina and gave her a kiss, then hugged her.
“About a hundred and forty thousand soldiers. Give or take a few thousand,” Alex whispered in her ear. “That doesn’t even count the mercenaries I’m hiring. Which should be another forty thousand.
“I’ve come to win your war, my beloved duchess, but I’m also going to make you my concubine.”
Regina’s hands tightened in Alex’s clothes and then she laughed softly, laying her head down on his shoulder.
“Oh, thank heavens. You’re actually here and you can save me,” Regina said. “And I can’t be your concubine; I’m already your wife. But I’d be more than willing to show you all sorts of ways I’m grateful.”
Grand.
Chapter 17
Alex managed to keep a yawn from happening.
Barely.
Clenching his teeth together tightly, he watched Regina go through the current situation for all her recently arrived vassals.
Once more, the liege levies across her ducal lands had been called up to fight.
“…moved south for the initial attack. Much of the previous defenses from the last year aren’t as useful this year. Mostly because the front line has shifted,” said Regina’s lead general.
He was a traditional man who wanted to employ traditional tactics and strategies. Alex couldn’t complain, since the man had been able to assist Regina in holding off the duke so far up to this point.
Though Alex couldn’t remember the man’s name, and he didn’t feel like it would be worth knowing either.
He wasn’t about to listen to this man if he gave Alex instructions or orders. Not unless Regina ordered him to.
Alex would hold his own council and run his own plans and gambits.
The goal isn’t to crush the duke, it’s to take his land.
Take his land whole, intact, and ready to be used.
Destroying him, his army, and his people would accomplish nothing.
“…something to add, Count?” asked the general, looking at Alex.
“No.” Alex shook his head.
“Then I’ll ask you to hold the left flank,” the general said, staring hard at him.
Not bothering to hide the act, Alex looked to Regina for confirmation.
Alex owed no one here anything, other than Regina. Brit was self-sufficient at this point and might as well be a minor duchy.
The simple reality was if Alex were anyone else, he’d probably already be the duke, Regina nothing more than a gravestone or a wife without a title.
“Please hold the left, Count Inferno,” Regina said, dipping her head to him.
“Of course, Duchess. I’ll hold the left in your name,” Alex said with a smirk. “
Last time I held the left, I walked away with everything the Tilly family owned, broke Frenis over my knee, and crushed their elite troops.”
Alex paused, looking back at the general.
“Twice, in fact. I wouldn’t mind doing it again for a third time,” Alex said.
And maybe we can steal their pay-chests again.
There was some dark chuckling from around Alex. Sitting immediately at his left and right were Dave and Drew. Behind those two were Dan and Art.
Alex and his generals had a reputation.
They would do whatever it took to win, and there was no honor held, nor any courtesies.
Turning, Alex made eye contact with Dan.
The man grinned as soon as Alex looked at him.
“I’ll make it happen,” Dan said. Apparently, he already knew what Alex was going to ask for.
A repeat of last time.
Turning back to the general, Alex waited.
“Thank you for your willingness to serve your position,” the general said.
“Of course. How could I not do as my wife asked me?” Alex said, blinking slowly. When he opened his eyes, he’d come to a simple conclusion.
Maybe I’ll have him killed when this is over. We won’t need him then, will we?
He’s insubordinate and doesn’t care for me. So why should I care for him?
As if realizing what he had done and was doing, the general stiffened and nodded quickly.
“Of course, Count Inferno, of course,” said the general, moving along with his plan.
Turning to Dave, Alex leaned towards the man.
“Same as last time. Figure out the position, look for something defensible, get the mounted infantry there first,” Alex murmured. “Kill who you need to kill to get it done if need be.”
Dave nodded.
Turning the other way, Alex moved toward Drew.
“Don’t wait for orders or permission. Get your cavalry squared up with Quinn and figure out who’s doing what,” Alex said. “Remember, adapt, be flexible, seize the initiative. If you see their baggage train, scouts, or an opportunity, weigh it and then judge if it’s worthwhile.”
Drew nodded and then got up and left, Art following him out.
By the time Alex turned back to the front, Dave and Dan had gotten up and followed the other two men as well.
Listening to Regina’s general, Alex was bored once more.
He wasn’t sure why he’d been tasked with the left, since that was usually where you put your weakest, but he didn’t care.
He’d do what he had to do here, all the while doing what he wanted in other theaters.
Fighting down another yawn, Alex waited quietly for the meeting to end.
***
As he walked through his military encampment, Alex felt an inhuman amount of pride in his people.
They weren’t just orderly—they were orderly, disciplined, and frightening.
Every man and woman he saw looked ready.
Like a drawn blade with a honed edge.
Pristine armor, immaculate uniforms, weapons at the ready. The camp was a living, breathing weapon of war.
And through all of that, there was a deep sense of “oneness” for all the soldiers of Brit. These were all veterans now, having served in the most recent Xer campaign.
Even the crossbow soldiers, an entire division of women, got the same respect from their fellows.
To fight and die with one another is to become a single entity.
Doesn’t hurt that I gave out medals, promotions, and land bestowments on anyone who earned it.
Male or female.
Nodding his head at a particularly dangerous group of women, Alex gave them a polite smile.
They stiffened up when they realized who he was.
Alex said nothing but kept smiling as he passed them by, walking deeper into the camp.
His own tent was right smack dab in the middle of the mounted infantry. He felt the most at home with those soldiers, and the vast majority of his personal house guard was drawn from their ranks.
Though in the last few weeks, he’d hired on crossbow women to his house guard as well.
“Fucking different world,” Nannie muttered from beside him.
“In what way?” Alex asked. He was making his rounds with only Carla and Nannie. He blended in rather well unless someone really looked.
It was one of the things he enjoyed doing.
“Women soldiers,” Carla said, answering for Nannie.
“Yeah, and female bodyguards,” Alex said. “Not to mention Six is an actual knight. And that reminds me, I need to knight the two of you and then buy you the same equipment. No more running around in leather.”
Nannie made a disgusted noise while Carla laughed.
“Me? A knight? Alex, I don’t—”
“Yes. A knight. You can shut up and like it, or keep talking and like it. There is no in-between,” Alex said, interrupting her. “I don’t much care for the idea of you getting hurt for me, so I’m going to make it that much harder for it to happen. Five’s got a set of armor stashed away that I want you to look at. You can wear that at the least, or more like Six.”
“Fine,” Carla said with a heavy sigh. “Fine. It’ll just make it that much easier to hire others with our background, I guess. If you’re willing to bed and knight people like me and Five, you’d do the same with others.”
Moving into a training field, Alex immediately saw Valeria, Sylvia, and Rebekah.
Those three tended to move around together.
Their natures had enough overlap that they seemed to find a common ground between them. Much in the same way as Carla, Nannie, and Riley.
Eleanor tended to run the middle and fit with either side.
“They’re plotting again,” Nannie said.
“They’re always plotting,” Carla muttered. “Least I can still beat two of them in cards. Anything I lose to Seven I get back from Three and Four.”
“Seven cheats,” Nannie said as Alex walked straight for the trio.
“So do I,” Carla said.
Nannie laughed at that. It sounded wonderful to his ears. To Alex, it had the unrestrained mirth only found in someone who enjoyed their life.
I need to move on Nannie. Time to free her.
Looking up at his approach, Valeria, Sylvia, and Rebekah all broke out into smiles when they noticed him.
Shit. Nannie was right, they were plotting.
“Ladies,” Alex said as he walked up to them. “I need your collective minds. I believe I gave each of you a few tasks. Could I ask you to join me in my tent so we could go over them?”
“Oh! A six way? That’d be fun,” Rebekah said. “If I can’t have Alex, I call dibs on Five.”
“I wouldn’t mind having Alex to myself,” Valeria said. “Or Two.”
“I’d prefer Alex, of course, but I’d go in for Six,” Sylvia said.
Alex sighed and gestured to his tent. “Come on. You’re an awful lot. You all know very well that Two has sworn off everyone and Five isn’t interested. No need to taunt them.”
“Fine, fine, just a four way then,” Rebekah said. “I’m sure Three, Four, and I could make you stay in bed all day, baby. Leave the soldiering to the soldiers.”
Not waiting, Alex started off for his tent.
“Thanks,” Nannie muttered. “I’m flattered at the attention but… I just… I don’t go… that way.”
“And I’m only for you,” Carla interjected. “I deeply regret everything of myself I gave away before meeting you. Deeply.
“I look forward to giving you all of myself next time.”
“Next time?” Nannie asked, sounding puzzled.
“She’s just being philosophical,” Alex said quickly, moving into the tent.
Riley stood to one side, turning to face him with a tea-service trolley to one side. She looked to Carla in question.
“Numbered and Alex,” Carla said, catching Riley’s look.
Giving
Carla a smile, Riley began to load her trolley as several maids assisted.
Alex moved to his table, where he sat down and waited. Hopefully his people had good news for him.
He had plans to make and execute, after all.
“I looked into everything you asked about,” Sylvia said, seating herself directly in front of him.
Since she’d walked out on him, she’d returned to her previous disposition, wanting punishment and rewards in equal measure. Their game just as it had been.
“It’s almost exactly what you said you were expecting. The duke’s soldiers haven’t been paid at all in the last three months,” Sylvia said. “They’re getting promises and vouchers instead.
“At first, a few merchants were buying them from the soldiers and then cashing them against the Duke, but he stopped paying them out pretty quickly.”
Alex nodded. He imagined that had neatly locked the soldiers into keeping the vouchers.
Even if they were worthless.
“Alright. In other words, the duke is beyond broke and can’t pay his people anymore,” Alex said. Steepling his hands in front of himself, he looked up at the tent material above. “What about his own vassal armies?”
“Same situation,” Valeria said, having sat down next to Sylvia.
Rebekah had dropped into the chair next to Alex’s right as Carla and Nannie took up the sides of the table.
There was one seat open to his left, and one to Valeria’s right.
“He’s using up their liege levies, but he hasn’t paid them yet either,” Valeria said. “Which is quickly making his vassals rather unhappy. They only really have one alternative—pay the soldiers themselves.
“Which isn’t normal or accepted practice.”
Alex nodded.
That made sense.
He himself was paying all the wages for the soldiers he’d called up from his vassals. They were fighting on his behalf, after all, not for their liege lord, which meant it was up to him to pay for their needs and expenditures.
“Alright,” Alex said with a soft sigh. “What about the food, armory, and supplies?”
“The same,” Sylvia offered up as Riley’s maids began serving everyone morning tea and coffee. “Debts and vouchers upon promises and oaths. I’m fairly certain the amount of outstanding debt the duke has would probably topple the entirety of his domain.”
